Hospice care is so much more than people expect it to be, and people are often surprised about the work we do here and how uplifting and happy our hospice can be. I wanted The Courtyard Café to have that same wonderfully unexpected feeling.

​

I have created a menu that excels in simple, freshly cooked, locally sourced food that aims to have you telling your friends and coming back for more. Community is at the heart of everything at St John’s Hospice and The Courtyard Café is no different. We want it to be a vibrant community venue for friends to meet, laugh, eat and drink.

​

My background is ideally suited for this role and I am so excited to have been chosen to take it forward. Having worked in professional kitchens for over 25 years from fine dining restaurants and 5 star hotels, to The National Trust and large NHS hospitals, I have a great blend of commercial and not for profit kitchen experience. This unique blend also allows me to create a simple, great value menu, with an added touch of quality.

​

I grew up in Norwich, an area with farming and agriculture at its heart. I wanted that to be a strong theme here at The Courtyard too, which is why all our suppliers are real, local people and a lot of our fruit and vegetables are grown here on site at St John’s, by our volunteer gardening team. It all comes back to that word community… all of us working together to create a wonderful café and raise much needed funds for St John’s Hospice.

​

My catering team and I look forward to welcoming you to The Courtyard Café.

​

​

​

​

​

James Foster